Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-10

Preached at the Congregational
Church in Grand Rapids, Wis.
by the pastor Rev. A. L.
p. LOOMS, Feb. 20.
Po0er6s ST. Unto y0n, Omen, IeaA

wisdom PERSONNEL speaks as OOu
Who so worthy to speak as he whose
wisdom is infinite? Who 50 worthy to
be heard and obeyed as he who "by
understanding hath established the
heavens?" What then is the call OF
wisdom, "Hear, for l will speak of ex-
cellent things, and the opening of my
lips shall be right things" Is he1
instruction valuable? Receive my
instruction, and not silver, and know
ledge rather than choice gold"
What would wisdom have us do?
CLEAR instruction, and be wise and
refuse it not. For who so fndeth me
fndeth life and shall obtain favor of the
Lord, but he that sinneth against me
wrongeth his own soul, all they that hate
me loyeth death"
The call of wisdom therefore is to a
holy life, the hearing and obeying of
the commands of God. Notice that
this call is especially to men. Some
men say that religion is good enough
for women and children, implying that
men do not need it. But the call of our
text is to men as though they are the
very ones who do need it, and might be
expected to respond to so reasonable a
call.
Let us consider some reasons why
God calls men particularly to his
service.
1st. Because a special appeal seems
needed to reach men. The last statistics
of the Congregational Churches of
Wisconsin report 42l0 male members,
and 1858 female members. This pro-
portion of one-third men and twO-thirds
women holds true in the membership
of the churches throughout the country.
In the older settled portions the pro-
portions of men is greater, in the newer
and frontier portions less.
This church has in its resident. mem
bership 15men and 70women; less than
one-fifth males. How shall we account
for this? 1t would seem as though
there must be some grave reason for SO
great lack. Certainly it cannot be the
Indians reason-Dr Riggs after laboring
for sometime among the Dacotas had
gathered a church of fifteen women.
He was one day endeavOring to persuade
some converted men that they too
ought to join the church. One Of these
dusk V worriors, after looking knowing
" at the others answered "your church
all women-don't expect us to join a
woman's church do you? Have a mans
church and we will join"
We have been too long under civiliz
ing influences to feel ourselves too good
to be associated with women in the
church; indeed we know very well
that we must strive hard to be worthy
of such associations.
Probably the smaller number of men
in our churches is accounted for in part
by the more spiritual nature of women,
who perceive more quickly and feel
more deeply the claims of spiritual
truth, and so more readily enter the
Christian life.
Perhaps for this verB reason God
appeals more directly to the under
standing of men. He intends they
should grasp more firmly by the reason
ing faculties what our sisters grasp more
quickly by spiritual insight. Men pride
themselves on their ability to reason
God would have us see that the highest
reason demands a God-fearing, obedient,
holy life. He takes us on our own
grounds and says follow me because it is
most reasonable. Surely if there is a
God who comes for us and claims our
services it is the part of reason to give
that service.
The Christian acts more reasonably in
his life of faith and love and obedience
than the man of highest mental powers
who withhOlds that service.
Another reason why men are not SO
readily reached by the claims of the
Gospel is because they are more expos
ed to the temptations of the world.
Their business brings them in contact
with all classes of society and in the
way of evil influences. They form more
bad habits which stand as a bar between
them and the life they know they ought
to lead.
The man who is addicted to intoXicat
ing drinks, has an almost insuperable
obsticle in the way of holy life He
must break off from that which holds
him as a wise in the power of its GRASP
before he can open his heart for the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. [ believe
the use of tobacco benumbs the mora
faculties and makes men more easy il
resisting the claims of higher life. II
like manner, betting, gambling, covet
business. RIGHTEOUSNESS and every evi
way, block the narrow path which lead
to heaven.
Men much away from home are no
only more exposed to temptation, bu
are deprived of many more direc
Christian influences. When the minis
ter, engaged in pastoral labor, and tn
Deacons and others 90 from house t
house to talk on the subject of religion
Il